• Civil 3D

Create plan and profile sheets

Create view frames, and then use them to create sheets that automatically display segments of alignments and profiles in Civil 3D.


00:03

In Civil 3D, you can automate the creation of sheets that display segments of alignments and profiles in your plans.

00:11

This automation saves you from making many manual changes

00:15

when your design data changes because plan and profile sheets in Civil 3D are linked to the design model.

00:22

This means that any changes made to an alignment, profile, or corridor

00:27

are automatically reflected in the sheets.

00:30

This dynamic updating ensures that the sheets always represent the current design,

00:36

minimizing the risk of discrepancies.

00:39

Civil 3D allows users to customize the layout and content of plan and profile sheets,

00:45

including title blocks, scales, and annotations, within the template file.

00:52

This ensures that sheets meet project requirements and adhere to company or client standards.

00:58

Also, by combining the design and documentation process,

01:02

Civil 3D streamlines the workflow from initial design through to final documentation.

01:07

Civil 3D’s standardized and automated sheet creation facilitates easier collaboration and communication among project teams

01:15

by ensuring that everyone works from a consistent set of sheets

01:19

dynamically linked to the design.

01:22

Creating sheets is a two-step process.

01:25

First, you need to create view frames,

01:28

or rectangular areas along an alignment that represent the data displayed on the sheets.

01:33

Then, you can create the sheets using the templates of your design.

01:38

Begin by opening a Civil 3D drawing with views already created.

01:43

In this example, you see a horizontal view and a profile view.

01:48

From the ribbon, Output tab, Plan production panel,

01:53

click Create View Frames.

01:56

The Create View Frames wizard opens.

01:59

Expand the Alignment drop-down and select an alignment—in this case, New Castle Rd.

02:06

For now, leave the Station Range set to Automatic,

02:09

to include the entire range, and then click Next.

02:14

On the Sheets page, leave the sheet type set to Plan and Profile,

02:18

and note the preview of the template,

02:20

which already includes a horizontal and vertical view frame.

02:24

To change the template, click Browse (…).

02:27

Then, in the Select Layout as Sheet Template dialog,

02:31

you can change the drawing template file,

02:34

as well as the layout for the new sheets.

02:37

In this case, a layout with a different scale is selected.

02:41

Click OK.

02:43

Next, from the View Frame Placement group,

02:46

you can choose to cut the view frames along the alignment or to rotate them to the north.

02:51

The preview allows you to compare the two placements.

02:55

In this example, Along alignment is chosen.

02:59

You can also choose to set the first view frame before the start of the alignment by a specified distance.

03:06

In this example, 30.0’ will be provided in front of the alignment

03:11

to add any additional design or documentation in the view.

03:15

Click Next, and then set the name of the View Frame Group, if needed.

03:20

Here, the name automatically includes the alignment name and can be left as is.

03:25

Click Next to open the Match Lines page.

03:29

Match lines are created at each view frame intersection

03:33

to make it easier to connect a set of printed sheets.

03:37

To allow for additional spacing between overlaps, enable Allow additional distance for repositioning.

03:43

Then, enter a value, such as 30.00’.

03:48

Set the match line Style and the labels, and then click Next.

03:54

On the Profile Views tab, set the profile view style and the band set style.

03:60

The band set is the group of elevations at the bottom of the profile

04:04

that can show both the existing ground and finished ground elevations.

04:08

Click Create View Frames.

04:11

The view frames display in the drawing.

04:14

In this example, they are large, and you may not need 3 sheets,

04:18

but if you are not happy with the way it is cut,

04:21

you can always go back and change it.

04:23

To change where a view frame starts on the alignment,

04:26

select the view frame, then use the grip that appears to move the frame.

04:31

Notice that the frame rotates with the alignment as it is moved,

04:35

and the match line is also updated.

04:38

Now you can create your sheets.

04:41

On the ribbon, Output tab, Plan Production panel, click Create Sheets.

04:48

In the Create Sheets wizard, choose the View Frame Group and output settings,

04:54

such as the number of layouts per drawing,

04:57

and whether you want them in a new drawing or the current drawing.

05:01

Here, select All layouts in the current drawing.

05:05

Additionally, if you want a north arrow to rotate with your view frames,

05:09

choose the North arrow block.

05:11

Click Next,

05:13

confirm the New sheet set name, and then click Next again.

05:19

From the Profile Views page, set any needed profile view settings,

05:24

and finally, specify whether to align the views at the start point,

05:29

the center, or the end point.

05:32

In this case, they will be aligned at the start.

05:35

Click Create Sheets.

05:38

A notification informs you that the current drawing will be saved.

05:43

Click OK to confirm.

05:45

You are prompted to select a point for the profile view origin.

05:50

To ensure that it does not overlap your other views, select a point away from the drawing.

05:56

The sheets are created.

05:58

Click, the layout tab menu and select a sheet to open it.

06:03

In Sheet 1 for this example,

06:06

you can see that the steep profile had to be cut into multiple sections

06:10

to be displayed in the view.

06:12

Use the tabs to open another sheet, such as Sheet 2.

06:16

Here, the black area is a mask layer that is included in the template

06:21

and can be turned off if necessary.

06:24

Now you know how to create view frames,

06:26

and then create sheets to display segments of alignments and profiles in Civil 3D.

Video transcript

00:03

In Civil 3D, you can automate the creation of sheets that display segments of alignments and profiles in your plans.

00:11

This automation saves you from making many manual changes

00:15

when your design data changes because plan and profile sheets in Civil 3D are linked to the design model.

00:22

This means that any changes made to an alignment, profile, or corridor

00:27

are automatically reflected in the sheets.

00:30

This dynamic updating ensures that the sheets always represent the current design,

00:36

minimizing the risk of discrepancies.

00:39

Civil 3D allows users to customize the layout and content of plan and profile sheets,

00:45

including title blocks, scales, and annotations, within the template file.

00:52

This ensures that sheets meet project requirements and adhere to company or client standards.

00:58

Also, by combining the design and documentation process,

01:02

Civil 3D streamlines the workflow from initial design through to final documentation.

01:07

Civil 3D’s standardized and automated sheet creation facilitates easier collaboration and communication among project teams

01:15

by ensuring that everyone works from a consistent set of sheets

01:19

dynamically linked to the design.

01:22

Creating sheets is a two-step process.

01:25

First, you need to create view frames,

01:28

or rectangular areas along an alignment that represent the data displayed on the sheets.

01:33

Then, you can create the sheets using the templates of your design.

01:38

Begin by opening a Civil 3D drawing with views already created.

01:43

In this example, you see a horizontal view and a profile view.

01:48

From the ribbon, Output tab, Plan production panel,

01:53

click Create View Frames.

01:56

The Create View Frames wizard opens.

01:59

Expand the Alignment drop-down and select an alignment—in this case, New Castle Rd.

02:06

For now, leave the Station Range set to Automatic,

02:09

to include the entire range, and then click Next.

02:14

On the Sheets page, leave the sheet type set to Plan and Profile,

02:18

and note the preview of the template,

02:20

which already includes a horizontal and vertical view frame.

02:24

To change the template, click Browse (…).

02:27

Then, in the Select Layout as Sheet Template dialog,

02:31

you can change the drawing template file,

02:34

as well as the layout for the new sheets.

02:37

In this case, a layout with a different scale is selected.

02:41

Click OK.

02:43

Next, from the View Frame Placement group,

02:46

you can choose to cut the view frames along the alignment or to rotate them to the north.

02:51

The preview allows you to compare the two placements.

02:55

In this example, Along alignment is chosen.

02:59

You can also choose to set the first view frame before the start of the alignment by a specified distance.

03:06

In this example, 30.0’ will be provided in front of the alignment

03:11

to add any additional design or documentation in the view.

03:15

Click Next, and then set the name of the View Frame Group, if needed.

03:20

Here, the name automatically includes the alignment name and can be left as is.

03:25

Click Next to open the Match Lines page.

03:29

Match lines are created at each view frame intersection

03:33

to make it easier to connect a set of printed sheets.

03:37

To allow for additional spacing between overlaps, enable Allow additional distance for repositioning.

03:43

Then, enter a value, such as 30.00’.

03:48

Set the match line Style and the labels, and then click Next.

03:54

On the Profile Views tab, set the profile view style and the band set style.

03:60

The band set is the group of elevations at the bottom of the profile

04:04

that can show both the existing ground and finished ground elevations.

04:08

Click Create View Frames.

04:11

The view frames display in the drawing.

04:14

In this example, they are large, and you may not need 3 sheets,

04:18

but if you are not happy with the way it is cut,

04:21

you can always go back and change it.

04:23

To change where a view frame starts on the alignment,

04:26

select the view frame, then use the grip that appears to move the frame.

04:31

Notice that the frame rotates with the alignment as it is moved,

04:35

and the match line is also updated.

04:38

Now you can create your sheets.

04:41

On the ribbon, Output tab, Plan Production panel, click Create Sheets.

04:48

In the Create Sheets wizard, choose the View Frame Group and output settings,

04:54

such as the number of layouts per drawing,

04:57

and whether you want them in a new drawing or the current drawing.

05:01

Here, select All layouts in the current drawing.

05:05

Additionally, if you want a north arrow to rotate with your view frames,

05:09

choose the North arrow block.

05:11

Click Next,

05:13

confirm the New sheet set name, and then click Next again.

05:19

From the Profile Views page, set any needed profile view settings,

05:24

and finally, specify whether to align the views at the start point,

05:29

the center, or the end point.

05:32

In this case, they will be aligned at the start.

05:35

Click Create Sheets.

05:38

A notification informs you that the current drawing will be saved.

05:43

Click OK to confirm.

05:45

You are prompted to select a point for the profile view origin.

05:50

To ensure that it does not overlap your other views, select a point away from the drawing.

05:56

The sheets are created.

05:58

Click, the layout tab menu and select a sheet to open it.

06:03

In Sheet 1 for this example,

06:06

you can see that the steep profile had to be cut into multiple sections

06:10

to be displayed in the view.

06:12

Use the tabs to open another sheet, such as Sheet 2.

06:16

Here, the black area is a mask layer that is included in the template

06:21

and can be turned off if necessary.

06:24

Now you know how to create view frames,

06:26

and then create sheets to display segments of alignments and profiles in Civil 3D.

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